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Thanks for joining us on the national news blog today. Here’s a brief recap of the day’s events:
- World no. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic will remain in Australian until at least Monday after an eventful day in which he had his visa cancelled upon arrival in Australia and was sent to immigration detention at the Park Hotel in Carlton. Djokovic began federal court proceedings seeking to remain in the country and play the Australian Open, which will re-commence on Monday. Australian Border Force is also now investigating at least one unvaccinated tennis player and one official who may also fall foul of border rules.
- Fellow tennis star Rafael Nadal weighed into the saga, saying: “I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem... He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but there are some consequences.” Meanwhile, Djokovic’s father described his son as the “symbol and the leader of the free world”.
- Australia’s daily total of coronavirus cases surpassed 72,000, including 34,994 new cases in NSW and 21,997 in Victoria. Of course, authorities say that figure is likely much higher. The Andrews government has estimated one in 50 Victorians have COVID-19, including one in 20 young people. From tomorrow, some jurisdictions – such as Victoria and South Australia – will start including rapid antigen tests in official numbers. Others, such as Queensland, are still working through how this will be done and say a national system is needed.
- There were 13 COVID-19 deaths across the country, including a double vaccinated man in his 20s.
- New density limits will be in place from midnight tonight for Victorian hospitality and entertainment venues, the state’s Health Minister has announced. The Northern Territory introduced a territory-wide lockout at 1pm which will last until noon Monday (with lockdown rules applying to those who are not fully vaccinated). And NSW is looking to suspend elective surgery to ease pressure on the healthcare system.
We will be back in the morning. Have a lovely evening.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday night Australian time said at a press conference in Belgrade he had talked to Djokovic a second time.
He said Prime Minister Ana Brnabic was pleading with Australian authorities to move the champion from “this infamous hotel to the house he has rented, so he can move around″, Serbian media reported.
“That’s what Novak has requested from his country and it is our duty to safeguard our citizens,″ President Vucic said.
“It’s not fair that a political chase is happening headed by the Prime Minister of Australia. They have allowed in similar players, but not Novak Djokovic. It is clear to everyone what is happening. I am not one to mince words, I am not afraid of speaking the truth. My job is to shield the citizens of Serbia and the truth.”
“I have also spoken to Novak Djokovic’s father, but I am afraid that sort of political provocation is going to continue, as they can’t defeat him another way,” Mr Vucic said.
Elective surgery restrictions are expected to be re-introduced in NSW on Friday, after the Premier flagged the state government was “looking at” limiting procedures as well as mobilising private hospitals to deal with what health authorities have said will likely be a rapid, but short, case surge.
More than 3800 health staff were furloughed in NSW due to COVID-19 exposure on Wednesday, up from 2200 the previous week.
On Wednesday night, Victoria announced it would also be suspending non-urgent surgery “to help hospitals respond to the increasing number of patients with coronavirus”.
Earlier this week, the Herald revealed COVID-positive patients were already taking up beds in private hospitals, as both part of public hospital surge plans and as a result of those patients receiving other care. There were 1609 COVID-19 cases in hospital on Thursday.
Private hospitals were briefed on the changes on Thursday. They were told the restrictions would be similar to those imposed in mid-2021. However, some more urgent categories of day surgery would still be allowed under the new rules, which will come into effect on Monday.
“Next week is the first week that we were coming back to any sense of normality – most surgeons are on holiday right now, they may not be looking at the news at all,” a senior Sydney surgeon not authorised to comment said, expressing concern about how hospitals would implement the restrictions on such a tight turnaround.
Non-urgent surgery was suspended in private and public hospitals in Greater Sydney in August, to free staff for involvement in vaccination programs and to provide care for rising hospitalisations in the city’s Delta wave.
Elective surgery was reintroduced slowly from October: first just day surgery, and then all non-urgent operations.
The backlog created by 2021’s elective surgery shutdown was significant. Data from the end of September showed the elective surgery wait list had reached 92,000 patients before procedures were gradually re-allowed.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons had expected the waiting list for procedures to grow significantly in early 2022, when people caught up on medical appointments missed during the lockdown.
NSW president of the Australian Medical Association Dr Danielle McMullen said the decision to suspend surgery was “inevitable” given the impact of rising case numbers on the hospital system “but not unavoidable”.
“Elective surgery is not ‘unnecessary surgery’, it is serious medical care and delaying that care impacts on the quality of life for many Australians,” she said.
“Elective surgery shouldn’t be a tap that government turns ‘on’ and ‘off’ to cover for serious cracks in our healthcare system.”
Amid record numbers of staff on furlough, NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce on Wednesday said the ministry planned to more than quadruple the number of vaccinations it was delivering at its state hubs, providing more than 300,000 shots a week by the end of January.
Thanks for joining us on the national news blog today. Here’s a brief recap of the day’s events:
- World no. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic will remain in Australian until at least Monday after an eventful day in which he had his visa cancelled upon arrival in Australia and was sent to immigration detention at the Park Hotel in Carlton. Djokovic began federal court proceedings seeking to remain in the country and play the Australian Open, which will re-commence on Monday. Australian Border Force is also now investigating at least one unvaccinated tennis player and one official who may also fall foul of border rules.
- Fellow tennis star Rafael Nadal weighed into the saga, saying: “I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem... He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but there are some consequences.” Meanwhile, Djokovic’s father described his son as the “symbol and the leader of the free world”.
- Australia’s daily total of coronavirus cases surpassed 72,000, including 34,994 new cases in NSW and 21,997 in Victoria. Of course, authorities say that figure is likely much higher. The Andrews government has estimated one in 50 Victorians have COVID-19, including one in 20 young people. From tomorrow, some jurisdictions – such as Victoria and South Australia – will start including rapid antigen tests in official numbers. Others, such as Queensland, are still working through how this will be done and say a national system is needed.
- There were 13 COVID-19 deaths across the country, including a double vaccinated man in his 20s.
- New density limits will be in place from midnight tonight for Victorian hospitality and entertainment venues, the state’s Health Minister has announced. The Northern Territory introduced a territory-wide lockout at 1pm which will last until noon Monday (with lockdown rules applying to those who are not fully vaccinated). And NSW is looking to suspend elective surgery to ease pressure on the healthcare system.
We will be back in the morning. Have a lovely evening.
Firefighters and police have remained on standby at Melbourne’s Park Hotel in Carlton this evening, as pro-refugee protesters and Novak Djokovic supporters rallied outside the building’s doors.
Swanston Street was closed to the traffic on both directions as several protesters calling on the closure of detention centres sat on the road with signs displaying the slogan “stop the torture”. Two sat atop the hotel’s awning chanting and holding a banner.
As Novak Djokovic was held in the Park Hotel in Carlton, Free the Refugee advocates staged a protest outside and on top of the veranda of the hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins
Officers dressed in overalls and equipped with helmets and harnesses sat in their cars, waiting to step in if needed.
Across the road, at Lincoln Square, two dozen protesters, including children and young people, remained hopeful to get a glimpse of the tennis star through the hotel’s window.
Some waved Serbian flags, while others engaged in traditional dance. Earlier they had called for Djokovic to be released, waving their flags from Swanston Street.
At 7.30pm the tennis star was yet to make an appearance.
In a final update on the saga surrounding tennis player Novak Djokovic before we sign off for the day, the world no. 1 will remain in Australia until at least Monday when his case is set to return to the federal court.
Lawyers for the Serbian star appeared in an online hearing this evening, after Djokovic had his visa cancelled upon arrival in Australia and he was sent to immigration detention at the Park Hotel in Carlton, in inner Melbourne.
After the hearing was adjourned until 6pm, Djokovic’s lawyers secured an interim injunction that prevents authorities deporting the tennis star until at least Monday, when a more substantive hearing is scheduled.
Barrister Christopher Tran, acting for Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, said the government did not oppose an injunction keeping Djokovic in Australia over the weekend.
Judge Anthony Kelly adjourned the case to be heard from 10am on Monday.
Australian Border Force is investigating at least one unvaccinated tennis player and one official who have already been allowed into the country after world no. 1 Novak Djokovic was sent to immigration detention and had his visa cancelled.
Tennis Australia has claimed that other Australian Open participants have been allowed into the country after contracting COVID in the past six months, using the same exemption that Djokovic applied for.
This prompted Border Force to launch investigations into the other player and official. Federal government sources said the two others may also fall foul of the rules, but said every case was different and they may have other valid medical reasons for not being vaccinated.
Earlier today, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed Border Force was now investigating the allegations and didn’t rule out more players being sent back home.
“I’m aware of those allegations, and I can assure you that the Australian Border Force is investigating that now,” Ms Andrews told 2GB. “ABF needs the opportunity to be able to conduct its investigation. But if the evidence is not there, then they will take the appropriate action.”
Tennis Australia officials were privately fuming about the federal government’s decision today. One source said the move appeared to be motivated by politics and a desire to target a high-profile vaccine sceptic to boost the government’s popularity. They said Djokovic’s Instagram post and subsequent media interest sparked the federal government’s motivation to take a hard line.
Rafael Nadal has endorsed the Australian Open’s vaccine mandate, but the Spanish tennis star has stopped short of personally encouraging Novak Djokovic to be vaccinated.
Speaking for the first time after arriving in Australia after his Open campaign was threatened due to a COVID-19 infection, Nadal offered his sympathy to Australians.
“It’s normal that the people here in Australia gets very frustrated with the case, because they have been going through a lot of very hard lockdowns... A lot of people were not able to come back home,” Nadal said.
“The only for me clear thing is if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open and everywhere, and the world in my opinion have been suffering enough to not follow the rules.”
Rafael Nadal trains at Melbourne Park on New Year’s Day.Credit:Getty Images
He backed the role of science, saying: “The only thing I can say is I believe in what the people who knows about medicine says. If the peoples says we need to get vaccinated, we need to get the vaccine, that’s my point of view.”
“I went through the COVID, I have been vaccinated twice. And if you do this, you don’t have any problem to play here,” he said. “That’s the only clear thing.”
Asked specifically about Djokovic’s situation, Nadal said: “If you don’t want to get the vaccine, you’re going to have some troubles.”
“Because after a lot of people have been dying for two years my feeling is with the vaccine, [it’s] the only way to stop this pandemic,” he said.
Pressed by a reporter about whether Djokovic “should have known better”, Nadal said he had no opinion on that.
“I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem... He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but there are some consequences.
“Of course I don’t like the situation that is happening. In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decisions.”
Judge Anthony Kelly has adjourned tennis star Novak Djokovic’s federal court hearing until 6pm and said he was prepared to sit late tonight to hear the case.
The judge said he was “strongly inclined” to speedily resolve the interim dispute – on whether Djokovic is deported on Thursday night or can stay until a further hearing is held on Monday – and was open to having Djokovic give evidence, if necessary in an online hearing.
The judge’s preference to hear the case quickly indicates Djokovic will spend at least tonight in Melbourne, unless the federal government pushes for him to be deported.
But Judge Kelly also warned that he would not be bound by Tennis Australia’s preference that the issue be completely resolved by Tuesday. Tournament organisers would need time to find a replacement player if Djokovic doesn’t compete.
“If I can say with the respect necessary, the tail won’t be wagging the dog here,” the judge said.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police has deployed additional officers to keep watch on twin protests unfolding outside Carlton’s Park Hotel, where Djokovic is being held following the cancellation of his visa.
A small group of Serbian fans staged a protest outside the hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins
The additional boots on the ground come after pro-refugee protesters calling for the abolishment of detention centres spray painted the message “Free them, free them all” on the facade of the hotel-turned-detention-centre. Earlier today, the group used colourful chalk sticks to paint slogans on the building’s walls and wooden verandah.
A group of about a dozen Djokovic supporters wrapped in Serbian flags and listening to folk music has also assembled on Lincoln Square, across the road from the hotel, after getting into a verbal argument with the pro-refugee group earlier in the afternoon. Some supporters accused the police of discrimination against Serbians and fought back chants from the pro-refugee camp by shouting that Djokovic was also a refugee.
There are now twelve police officers stationed around the building, where the tennis star is yet to make an appearance.
Police and refugee advocates outside the Park Hotel, which is where a number of refugees are also being detained.Credit:Chris Hopkins
Western Australia - the final state to report its COVID-19 numbers today - has recorded just one new local case and health authorities say they are in quarantine.
“The case is a household contact of a previously announced local case – the security guard based at the Hyatt Hotel. Any identified close contacts will be asked to isolate and will be tested,” a health department statement said.
The security guard’s infection has been linked to two overseas arrivals who were staying on the same floor he worked. However, no other chains of transmission at the hotel have been established.
“The security guard’s close and casual contacts continue to be monitored daily. All close and casual contacts have so far tested negative,” the statement said.
WA has also recorded six interstate cases: two linked to Victoria, one from Queensland, one from NSW, one from Tasmania and one from the Northern Territory. A further two cases have been linked to international flight crew. Those people are all in isolation.
There are now 74 active confirmed cases in WA. Across the rest of the country, more than 72,000 cases were reported on Thursday.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic has launched a legal challenge in a bid to remain in Melbourne and compete in this month’s Australian Open after having his visa cancelled on arrival.
His legal challenge reached the Federal Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon, but the court heard his lawyers were yet to file documents supporting their case.
Judge Anthony Kelly adjourned the hearing to 4pm and said he was prepared to sit late on Thursday to hear the case. After a lawyer for the federal government confirmed Djokovic was now at a hotel, Judge Kelly asked if the world No.1 had access to a tennis court for practice.
Djokovic is being held at the Park Hotel in Carlton, inner Melbourne, after spending hours in detention at Melbourne Airport. A sudden bout of rain has sent protesters rallying outside the hotel scrambling for cover.
Park Hotel in Carlton, where Novak Djokovic is being held after having his visa denied. Credit:Chris Hopkins / Getty
However, the downpour hasn’t dampened the spirits of some Serbian supporters who used the country’s national flag and caps donning its coat of arms to cover their heads as the rain fell down on Carlton’s Swanston Street.
Earlier in the afternoon, the group of about a dozen could be heard chanting “Free Djokovic” and “Nole”, Djokovic’s nickname as a handful of police officers watched on from across the road.
The tennis star’s father has also weighed in and described his son as the “Spartacus” of a new world – one that “does not tolerate injustice, colonialism and hypocrisy”.
In comments translated from Serbian media, Srdjan Djokovic said: “my son is tonight in Australian captivity, but he has never been more free. From this moment, Novak has become the symbol and the leader of the free world, the world of the poor and disadvantaged nations and peoples.” Read more on that here.
Our daily podcast Please Explain also unpacks the ongoing saga here.
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2022-01-06 08:34:32Z
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